Histological study of therapy for infected nonvital permanent teeth with incompletely formed apices

The histological response of periapical tissues to root canal fillings with calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2)-iodoform paste, Vitapex (Neo Dental Chemical Products Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan), and Ca(OH)2-camphorated paramonochlorophenol (CMCP) paste in nonvital permanent teeth with incompletely formed apices was investigated in 160 root canals from 90 dog premolar and incisor teeth. Periapical inflammatory lesions were initially induced in the experimental teeth. After debridement and cleaning, root canals were filled with one of the two materials. The animals were sacrificed after 30, 60, 120, or 180 days, and histological sections of each specimen were prepared with hematoxylin and eosin staining. Histological findings showed periapical repair and apical closure in both experimental groups. However, the differences in the level of inflammation, apical closure, and reparative process among the two groups were significant (p less than 0.05). It was concluded that the Ca(OH)2-iodoform paste, Vitapex, produced better results than Ca(OH)2-CMCP paste in treatment of infected nonvital permanent teeth with incompletely formed apices.